New York City

Friday Brian and I went into NYC with my Uncle and Cousin (up visiting from FLA). We had a great time and saw so many different sites- Battery Park, Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty, China Town, Little Italy, Time Square, Central Park, and Rockefeller Center.

We had a great time and it was so nice to get some time away and spend time with my cousin Stephanie who I rarely get to see.

In front of Lady Liberty (Brian's too tall and is blocking her..lol)


Steph and Uncle Dieter

Me and Stephanie

Brian and I in Times Square

In front of the tree (as close as we wanted to get to the crazy crowds!!)


Steph and I

Christmas 2008

Well it has finally settled down. We had a great holiday, filled with joy, laughter, family and friends. We hope everyone had a great holiday as well. It is always a hectic time of the year and I am just now resurfacing to update the blog. I know I have been slacking but we are all get over being sick too!

This will most likely be a really long blog post, because I have so much to share.

Christmas Eve was spent visiting with Opa, Ginny, Aunt Jessica, Uncle Anthony, Keira, Aunt Lauren and Parker. The boys had fun playing with toys and goofing around with Opa.

Just a handful of favorites.

Brian and the boys before we left.

Momma and her boys.

Shane looking ever so big!

Momma and Shane

Johnny enjoying his new camera from Opa. He was taking a picture of me taking a picture of him.


The boys and their Opa

Auntie Lauren and Keira

Auntie Lauren and Parker (maybe Uncle Parker in the future..hint hint ;))

Aunt Jessica and Keira

The kids (yah this was a fun shot!)


After we got home Christmas Eve night Johnny had to put out Cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the Reindeer.

Then Brian and John read Twas the Night Before Christmas

Our tree before Santa and Mrs. Claus went to bed ;)


Shane woke about 7:30 am and I couldn't keep him away from all the interesting gifts under the tree so we woke Dadda and Johnny at 7:45. I said "Johnny...SANTA CAME!!" He shot up out of bed SO FAST, you would of think I screamed FIRE! It was cute! He was still groggy but he walked out to the living room (blankies in hand of course) and just stared. Stared at the little Polar Express choo choo train chugging along underneath the tree.

It was the first thing he wanted to play with, and the first thing Shane wanted to destroy.

Johnny super excited about his choo choo. Shane eyeing it down.

Its getting tricker to get this boy to look at the camera :)

Loving the Lap top from Grandma and Tom

Shane being silly. He loved hanging out in the boxes.

Momma helping

After we opened all of Santa's gifts we took a break to have breakfast. While I was making breakfast I peeked in on Shane and saw that he was eating the rest of the cookies that Santa didn't finish. BUSTED!

Johnny wanted in the action too :) Shane is still a good sharer.

After breakfast Mimi came over and we opened more.



Enjoying the Hess trucks from Mimi, Pop Pop and Shari

Shane talking on the phone.




Going for a ride


Getting ready to go to Christmas dinner at Uncle Jim and Aunt Maura's




Family photo.


All day and for the few days following Christmas Johnny kept saying "Merry Cwissmiss Momma"

I of course took a zillion pictures. Rather then posting the links to the specific album I created a shutterfly album that will host all our pictures. To check out rest the holiday pictures check our shutterfly album at http://thecarmanfamily.shutterfly.com . I am going to backtrack and get all of our digital pictures uploaded.

Happy Holidays

We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Letter to Santa

John has been eagerly waiting Santa's arrival. Last night he wrote a letter to Santa with Daddy's help. He asked Santa for everything that he wanted. He dictated to Brian what to write. It was quite cute, and this morning he asked Daddy if he mailed Santa the letter like he said he would.



"Dear Santa,
Hi Santa. I have been a good boy. Please bring me a choo choo train like Hannah's. The Hess truck, and video game. Also some books and toys. Love Johnny P (Brian added that part)

PS. Some toys for monster please (John calls Shane monster)"

A Thousand Words Thursday

Johnny saying MOOOO


For more A Thousand Words Thursday Click Here

Happy 11 Months Shane

I woke up this morning to the sound of your hiccups coming through the monitor. I couldn't help to just sit there and giggle before I came in to get you. I walked into your room and you were standing in your crib holding onto the rail with this big grin and those adorable dimples. You said "Ma ~~hiccup~~ Ma" It was adorable and we both starting laughing.



You are such a little ham. You know how to get a smile out of anyone. You don't always give them though if you are not in the mood. You have the most expressive little face. You speak so much through your baby blue eyes and those eyebrows. Its quite comical watching you.

You are standing on your own for minutes at a time, but your still uneasy about it. Once you realize what you are doing you slowly bend your knees and return to a sitting position. I believe you will be moving around by the end of the year! You love dancing to music. Your father and I can sit and watch you (and laugh) all day. You swing your head back and forth kinda like Stevie Wonder (I'm sure you will never know who that is..was...) and shake your pelvis doing the hump de hump like John did as well.



You love your brother so much and are often known as Johnny Shadow (or Monster, or Mr. Man, or Bubba, or Swiper, or Shaner). You love to steal whatever John is playing with and throw it onto the ground. You follow him around all day stealing whatever he is playing with. This usually ends with you crying because John has taken his toy back or pushed you. Either way, you get over it and continue being Swiper :)



Your father and I cannot believe how fast the last 11 months have gone. It blows us away that next month you will be a year. It seems like we just had you, but in another way it feels like you have always been apart of our family. We love you to pieces Shane man, you bring us so much joy!!


Note: Comparison picture to follow...hectic day and I didn't get to take it.. so will have to after work tomorrow :)

All Aboard!

Over the weekend we met some friends and went on the Polar Express train ride. John was so into this movie last year and we had a great time on the ride last year. We met at Alexis' house and John was mesmorized with the Polar Express Train Set that was under her tree. He loved it so much. Then we bundled up and went to the train ride. This year was even better then last year, because John is older and understood a lot more. He (and all the children) had a great time. They enjoyed christmas music, hot cocoa, cookies, and receiving a bell from Santa. Now anytime we ask him what he wants Santa to bring him he responds "A Polar Express choo choo train" (which I ordered for him this week and will be chugging along around the tree when he wakes up christmas morning! I can't wait to see his face.)












Click Here for the album of pictures.

A few shots from last years trip.